Fence



Patented Dec. 25, 1934? PATENT OFFICE FENCE George A. La Clair,Danielson, Conn. Application June 21, 1933, Serial No. (576,839

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in barrier forming means and hasparticular reference to improved means and method of forming a yieldablefence.

One of the principal objects vis to provide a fence construction whichisnormally stiff -.but yieldable and capable of being flexed ifaccidentally hit or run into and which will return to=its initial setwithout injury to the person or vehicle by which it is struck andwithout injury to, the fence itself.

Another important object of the invention is to provide decorativefencing means readily adaptable for use around flower gardens, lawns,and so forth, and for window display purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence which is readilyadaptable for use out of doors or for-use indoors and which is treatedwith means for prolonging its life and for durability.

Another object is to provide a fence which may be easily shaped tovarying formations and having means for supporting it in said positions.

Another object-is to provide means whereby the design portions of thefence may be 'quickly and easily changed.

Another object is to provide means whereby the fence may be varied inlength as desired.

Another object to provide means whereby the meeting ends of the fencemay be quickly and easily united.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken inconnection with the accompanyingdrawing, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the'details of construction, arrangement of parts, and methods shown anddescribed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as expressedin the accompany- 40 ing claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limformof fence embodying the invention;

Fig. II is an enlarged sectional view taken on 5 modified form ofconnecting member;

of this invention Fig'. VI is a fragmentary view partially in sectionshowing a detachable decorating member;

Fig. VII is a view similar to Fig. VI showing a modified form ofdecorating member;

Fig. VIII is a view similar to Fig. I showing 5 a modified form offence;

Fig. IX is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line IXIX ofFig. VIII;

Fig. X is an enlarged view partially in section showing the connectingmeans for the meeting 10 ends of the fence member shown in Fig. VIII;and

Fig. XI is an enlarged sectional view taken on line XII-XI of Fig. X.

It has been usual in the past in forming fences employed to surroundlawns, flower gardens, and 15 for decorative purposes, to form the fenceof wood, metal, wire, or other rigid means. This type of fence, ifaccidentally hit or run into by a person or vehicle, not only injuredthe person ;:or vehicle but also became broken or up- 20 "rooted whichnecessitated costly repairs. Such fences were also very diflicult to setup, particularly in instances wherein they were subject to beingtransferred from one location to another and had to be shaped to varyingformations, as for example, shaped to fit a circular flower bed or theangled corners of a lawn.

It, therefore, is one of the primary objects of this invention toobviate theabove mentioned difilculties by providing fence means which,if accidentally struck or run into by a person or vehicle, will notcause injury to said person or vehicle, and will notbecome broken ordislodged.

It also is an object of this invention to provide fence means which maybe quickly and easily adjusted to varying contour shapes and formationsand whicli may be quickly and easily set up and adjustedto the requiredlength.

.Referring more particularly to the drawing 40 wherein like charactersof reference designate like parts throughout. the several views, thedevice as shown in Figs. I to VII inclusive comprises a plurality ofuprights 1 connected by horizontally extending tie members 2. The up- 5rights 1 at predetermined spaced intervals'are provided with a spike orother suitable type of support means 3, which as shown in Fig. II, isanchored in the end of the upright 1. The spike 3 if desired may extendthe full length of the member 1 or may be short, as illustrated, and ispreferably provided with a plurality of projections 4 for aiding inretaining its connection with the upright 1. The uprights 1 and tiemembers 2 are preferably formed of rubber, gutta 6:

It is apparent that during the formation of,

the uprights 1 and tie members 2, the material may be treated to renderit weather-proof, and that the said material may be made in varyingcolors, such as is common practice in connection with materials of thisnature.

The fence is formed in sections which are secured together at theirmeeting ends by a clamp member 5, such as shown in Figs. I and III, orby a tubular connecting member 6, such as shown in Fig. V. Theconnecting member 5,

" as shown in Figs. III and IV, comprises a pair of spaced clamp members7 and 8 connected by a screw member or other suitable means 9.

The clamp members 7 and 8 are provided on.

their inner faces with projections 10 which are adapted to engage withthe ends of the tie mom-1 bers 2 and securely hold the said ends inaligned relation with each other. The clamp members 7 and 8 are providedat their sides with flanged lips 11 for engaging the sides of the tiemembers 2. 1

In Fig. V there is shown amodifled form of connecting member 6 foruniting the meeting ends of the tie members 2. In this instance theconnecting member 6 is in the form of a tube of a material substantiallythe same as that of the tie members 2 and is adapted to hold the meetingends of said tie members in aligned relation with each other by frictionor by cementing the said ends internally thereof. The tie members 2 inthis instance are provided internally thereof with a flexible membersuch as a lead composition or cable formed of small strands of wire.

In Figs. VI and VII are shown detachable decorative end members 13formed of a material similar to that of the uprights 1 and havingrecessed neck portions 14 which are adapted to fit over the upper endsof the uprights 1, particularly the main supporting upright.

These decorative members 13 may be held on said uprights 1 by frictionor by a cement or other suitable means.

In Figs. VIII to XI inclusive there is shown a further modificationwherein the uprights 15 aretformed with bifurcated upper portions whichare joined to each otherto form the tie members 16 between saiduprights. The lower ends of the uprights 15 are connected by tie members17. The fence in this instance is provided with a plurality of weights18 at predetermined spaced intervals to support the fence in an uprightposition. The weight members 18, if desired, may be provided with smalltaclr shaped projections 19 for increasing the holding action of theweight members 18. The weight members 18,as shown in Fig. IX, are formedpreferably of a. metal such as lead and are placed internally of aholding pocket 20 attached to the uprights 15. The pocket 20, uprights15, and tie members 16 and 1'1 are formed preferably of a flexiblematerial such as gutta percha, rubber, or other suitable means menace ofa flexible nature and are adapted to be readily yieldable and of such anature as to return to their initial set if bent and released. The fenceshown in Fig. VIII is also formed in sections of predetermined lengthsand the meeting ends thereof are attached as shown in Figs. X and XI.

The uprights 15 at the meeting ends of the fence are provided with apocket portion 21 adapted to receive the end 22 of the tie members 16.The tie members 16, as shown in Fig. X[ are adapted to fit one withinthe other so that they may be crossed and securely held in saidrelations The ends 22 may be held in the pockets 21 by friction orcement, as desired, or by any suitable connecting means- The lower tiemembers 17 at the meeting ends are provided with a telescopingconnection 23 which is formed by making a pocket member 24 in one of themeeting ends of the tie members 17 and a reduced projection 25 on theother of said ends. The interrelated parts may be held in connectedrelation with each other by friction or by cement or other suitablemeans.

Although applicant has shown and described the weight means 18 as beingapplied only to the fence member shown in Fig. VIII and spike means 3 asapplied only to the fence member shown in Fig. I, it is apparent thateither of the fences may bers 19 for use indoors, such as for windowdisplay work or other interior decoration. The fence members may beformed to any required size and may be formed with the parts integral orseparate, as desired.

The tie members 2 and 17 may be formed more flexible than the uprights 1and 15, depending upon the nature and requirements of the fence. It isalso apparent that difierent sections of said uprights or tie membersmay be formed to varying degrees of resiliency or flexibility.

The uprights 1 and 15 and the tie members 2, 16 and 17 may be formed ofsolid material or may have a metal lining such as lead, wire, or otherreadily bendable means. It is apparent also that although applicant hasdescribed the said uprights and tie members as being formed of rubher orgutta percha, or a composition incorporating both of these materials,that the said members may be formed of a cellulose composition,resilient metal, such as spring steel, or other suitable means.

The parts may be provided with means for pre-- venting deterioration atthe time they are formed or may be treated or coated with said meansafter they are formed.

Ininstances wherein it is desired to provide a fence which may berigidly supported in an up right position but which may be easily shapedto members 3 which extend above the ground may be made yieldable orrigid as desired.

The fence when formed of rubber, gutta percha or a cellulose compositionis preferably moulded and the degree of resiliency of the various partsonportions thereof may be controlled by the thickness to which the saidparts or portions are moulded. It is apparent also that the degree ofresiliency may be controlled by the mixture of the composition fromwhich the parts are moulded. The said parts may be moulded separate ofeach other but are preferablymoulded' integral.

Ininstances when it is desired to use strips of v spring metal the partsmay be riveted or otherwise secured together by any suitable means.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have providedsimple, eflicient, and economical means and method of accomplishing allthe objects and advantages of the invention, particularly that ofproviding aportable, yieldable fence which may be readily flexed andwhich will return to its initial set if released.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A fence construction comprising a plurality of sections each having aplurality of upright members in predetermined spaced relation with eachother and transversely extending tie members adjacent the opposite endsof said upright members adapted to support the upright members in saidspaced relation, said upright members and tie members being formed of asolid normally st if but yieldable material and a plurality of saidupright members in predetermined spaced relation with each other beingprovided with a projecting pointed support member.

2. A fence construction comprising a plurality of upright members inpredetermined spaced relatLon with eachother and'transversely extendingtie members adjacent the opposite ends of said upright members andconnected to the-sides of said members, said upright members and tietionally held on said members.

4. A fence construction comprising a plurality of upright members inpredetermined spaced relation with each other and transversely extendingtie members adjacent the opposite ends of said upright members andconnected to said members, said upright members and tie members beingformed of yieldable material which if flexed and released will return toits initial set. 5. A fence construction comprising sections formed of aplurality of upright members in predetermined spaced relation with eachother and transversely extending tie members adjacent the opposite endsof said upright members and connected to said members, said upnghtmembers and tie members being formed of a yieldable material which ifflexed and released will return to its initial set, and means associatedwith the ends of thetransversely extending tie members of each sectionfor securing the said ends together.

GEORGE A. LA CLAIR.

